"Hardworking Americans".

[FlyingSquirrel]

Remember that dog-whistle from the primaries? It's back.

John McCain released a http://www.johnmccain.com/Informing/News/PressReleases/Read.aspx?guid=1d9b670d-a06d-4c91-ba0e-59c25374780b">statement to the press today responding to Congressman John Lewis who compared McCain & Palin's tactics with those of George Wallace.

But did McCain stop at merely defending himself? No. He felt it necessary to also defend the people who came to his and Palin's campaign events - the same people who were shouting out "Terrorist!"; "Kill him!"; and other racist and inflammatory epithets directed at Barack Obama.

And what were the words he used to defend these people with? "Hardworking Americans."

I am saddened that John Lewis, a man I've always admired, would make such a brazen and baseless attack on my character and the character of the thousands of hardworking Americans who come to our events to cheer for the kind of reform that will put America on the right track.

John Lewis is, incidentally, an African-American. John McCain makes sure to avoid a possible charge of racism against Lewis by calling him a "man I've always admired"; and now calls on Obama to repudiate John Lewis's comments.

It's always the same thing - call on Obama to repudiate comments made by others - particularly other black men. Or to repudiate the people themselves. But most importantly, it once again turns the attack around onto Obama. Now if he doesn't repudiate Lewis's comments, he must therefore agree that "hardworking Americans" deserved this "attack on their character".

It's a shameless dogwhistle, and it's even more shameful coming in response to Lewis's astute observation.

Lewis's basic observation about the inciting of McCain/Palin crowds to dangerous fever-pitches of hate has been shared by MANY people over the last couple of days; but of course Lewis is singled out by the McCain campaign among all the others who are saying the same basic thing.

Why single out Lewis? Because he's a black man talking about someone who fomented hatred toward black people. It's something that can be easily turned around and made to seem as though there is a black uprising beginning in this country against white people - "hardworking Americans" - spearheaded by Lewis and condoned by Obama. All McCain's statement today did was EXACERBATE the fear and hatred that this demographic (racist whites, let's call them what they really are) feels.

Oh, by the way... I'm white so I can get away with saying this. If I were black, it'd probably be a different matter. At least to the McCain camp.

[Heather MC]

1. I hate that term because they only use it to describe whites as if other races are lazy

I say fuck them
I came from a family of nothing but hardworking broke people
My grandmother raise 3 kids on $4000.00 a year as a teacher she sent all her kids to college

My father worked at Foundry pouring hot lava into molds to make car parts for American Cars, until his job was shipped over seas
he also hauled junk cars on the weekends and worked as a mechanic

He almost died on the Job when the hot lava blew back in face and rolled down his stomach, he recovered and went back to work, so fuck you McCain my daddy works hard too

and My mother after the divorce had to raise 4 kids and work, 3rd shift and during the day with no fucken sleep she would go clean houses, My grandmother would help her
so fuck you McCain my Mother is a hardworking woman too.

I have had a job since I was 13, my first job was Mowing loans, washing windows, and painting fences.
While in College I was a straight A student with 2 Jobs
So fuck you McLame I am a fucking Hard worker too.

I don't know anyone of any race who isn't hard working
Middle Class and low income workers are the hardest working people in this country
Meanwhile a fucken CEO can "Work" at a company for 3 weeks and leave with 23 million while the workers are left to lose their job and benefits

McLame needs to Clarify who the fuck he is referring to when he says "Hardworking Americans"
Fortunately this enconomy doesn't scare me that much because I have already lived a life of struggle and sacrafice. And the only thing that will change is I will just have to "work harder"

[FlyingSquirrel]

5. Exactly. n/t

[anonymous171]

2. McCain's base aren't hard working.

They get laid off and blame minorities and gay people for their troubles instead of the corporations and their republican allies.

[McCCain4retirment]

3. don't forget nacy pelosi

[FlyingSquirrel]

8. ?

I don't get where she fits into this

[FlyingSquirrel]

4. Yikes. Are you saying they're "Bitter"?

:rofl:

[FlyingSquirrel]

9. I'm not gonna go there..

You get laid off, that ain't no picnic. Doesn't matter that you're not employed, you're working to stay alive.

[BlooInBloo]

6. It's funny how they picked up right where Clinton left off.

[FlyingSquirrel]

7. Yup. And just like Clinton, they're doing it because they're getting desperate.

At least McCain is. I think with Palin it's a way of life.

[CreekDog]

10. McCain should clean up his own campaign and issue some repudiations of his own

before telling others to do the same.

[rucky]

11. What did Lewis say?

Found it. Salon has the two statements in one article...

http://www.salon.com/politics/war_room/2008/10/11/lewis_wallace/index.html


John McCain is an arrogant ass. He knows what he's doing, considering Lewis didn't say anything that some of his fellow white Republicans have told him - but he chose to attack Lewis. He's more Wallace-esque than I imagined.

[fujiyama]

12. His latest attack is freaking LOW

Fuck you John.

Is this the "respectful" campaign you urged your supporters to run? Why don't you repudiate your own VP's comments in recent days?